Pat Robertson: Just Shut Up

I am not prone to warring with fellow foot soldiers in Jesus, but Pat Robertson really needs to shut up.

This is a world that is mourning the devastation and loss of tens of thousands of lives in Haiti. This is a world that seems genuinely heartbroken over the sadness and tragedy that has befallen our fellow human beings. And it doesn't take a PhD in human dynamics to understand that this is world where a window of opportunity has been opened to share a word of hope... of healing... of grace. This is a perfect time for the light of Christ to shine to a world darkened by a crushing disaster.

In the first four days after the earthquake, the little 2.5 million member Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod has raised $300,000. In four days (!) without the benefit of a single Sunday morning plea. Churches around the world are lining up supplies, food, rescue crews... but what message is the world hearing from the Christian Community? A message of our care and concern? No. The message making the most news comes from Televangelist Pat Robertson: "You deserve this!"

First of all, this is just poor theology. We all sin and fall short of God's glory. We ALL deserve nothing but earthly pain and everlasting torment, but the evangel ("good news") is that the Lord has freed us from the disaster we ALL deserve, by becoming the curse for us (Galatians 3:13). That's the gospel, Pat! That's why Jesus suffered and died, brother... for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD (John 1:29).

Secondly, in Luke 13, Jesus comments on an apparently fresh tragedy after a tower fell and crushed 18 people to death in Siloam. His question is this: "Do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?" His answer? "I tell you, no!" (v. 4-5). How is Haiti any different, Pat the Evangelist? 

Third, does Pat the Evangelist have any idea how difficult he makes my job... or the selfless ministry of any other caring Christian trying to connect people to Jesus? We not only have to come face to face with the spiritual forces of darkness in heavenly realms (Galatians 6) while grappling with the prowling roars of the devil (1 Pet 5), we have to not only proclaim the message of sin and grace (not an easy task), but we have to backtrack the loudmouthed and misdirected "gospel" of the guy with the biggest blowhorn.

Abe Lincoln offered this advise: "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt."

King Solomon put it this way: "Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent." (Proverbs 17:28)

I'm not that bright. I would simply offer these words: Pat Robertson, just shut up.